Dementia and holistic therapies – Victoria Brown

Our massage therapist Victoria Brown has worked with dementia patients for some time now. Here’s what she says about her work with them:

I have been a Complementary/Holistic Therapist for over ten years. I love my job as it enables me to provide various therapies to a wide cross- section of people.

Since around 2010 I have worked between one and two days each week at a secure Dementia Setting in Coventry. I spend my time giving Reflexology and light Massage treatments to residents with Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease and all the related health problems that inevitably come along with these diseases.

The residents who I work with benefit greatly from these treatments as they approach the mid to severe stages of their journey.

The world for a person living with Dementia can be very lonely, stressful and confusing particularly when communication levels are distorted, so that person’s wellbeing really must come to the forefront and be integrated into daily “care” which is why adding a Holistic element is so beneficial in these circumstances.

With Holistic and Complementary Therapies we look at the person as a Whole not just their symptoms, so while we are not treating “dementia” as such, we are providing gentle stimulation, relaxation, stress relief, one to one interaction and the power of “touch” which is quite often lost at this point of a person’s life.

During my time at the Unit I have been lucky enough to take part in all of their in house training on Mental Health, Policies and Procedures, Safeguarding etc. I liaise with Care Staff, Health Care professionals and families to help provide a dignified and meaningful life to those in our care.

Victoria is with us on Wednesday evenings, and you can book massage, reflexology, Indian head massage or ear candling with her by visiting our page www.amethystcentre.com/bookings . She is a director of Therapy Angels, which aims to bring holistic therapies to those who would benefit from them but who can’t afford to pay full price for them.